**3.2.3 Mozambique**

52 Biogas

Rwanda has a population of 10.2 million people of which 81% of this population reside in the rural areas in 2010 (United Nations, 2007). One of the famous biogas programmes is the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) large-scale biogas plants developed and installed in prisons. The aim of these plants was to treat toilet wastes and generate biogas for cooking. The first plant prison which was operational in 2001, and by 2011, KIST has managed to build and operationalize biogas plants in 10 prisons. Each prison is supplied with a linked series of underground biogas digesters, in which the waste decomposes to produce biogas. After this treatment, the bio-effluent is safe to be used as fertiliser for production of crops and fuel wood. The project was funded by Red Cross and the plant consists of five interlocking chambers. KIST's project saves 50% of wood for cooking and it won Ashden Award in 2006. The projects construction is managed by KIST, who also

Another biogas programme is the National Biogas Programme which is promoted by the Rwanda Ministry of Infrastructure, through the support by the Netherlands development organization. The programme aims at reducing firewood use by the households. The Ministry of Infrastructure estimates that 441 units have been installed to date, and approximately 15 000 households will be using biogas by end of 2011 for cooking and lighting3. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Rwanda is also collaborating with other ministries (e.g. Ministry of Education) in order to develop biogas plants in schools, clinics

Ghana has a population of 24.8 million of which 48.5% live in the rural areas (United Nations, 2007). Netherlands Development Organization (2007) estimates that Ghana has a potential to realise 280 000 domestic biogas plants, that is capable of producing 6000 m3 of liquid fertiliser, which would increase yield by 25%. However, low perception of biogas has modern energy has made Ghana not to realise the full potential of biogas utilisation (Bensah and Brew-Hammond, 2008). Bensah and Brew-Hammond (2010) highlights the status of the biogas development in Ghana, in which only about 200 units have been installed, thus lagging behind in comparison with other African countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Some initiatives such as Biogas Technology West Africa Ltd4 , funded by UNIDO has implemented a number of biogas digesters in Ghana for schools, hospitals and colleges. These are mainly underground masonry dome systems in the range of 60 m3 to 160 m3 volume. One example of these projects is Keta secondary school plant for 1200 users, and has a capacity of 80 m3. The plant is built in sandy, water logged area and it makes use of human waste. The gas is used for cooking. The future development of biogas in Ghana will however not be left to private investors and initiatives if the benefit to the rural communities is to be realised. Bensah and Brew-Hammond (2010) argues that, for successful future development of biogas in Ghana, there is a need for establishing a government body that

3 http://mininfra.gov.rw/index.php?option=com\_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=143

**3.2.1 Rwanda** 

provides training to both civilians and prisoners.

and community institutions.

solely focuses on promoting biogas.

4 http://www.biogasonline.com/projects.asp

**3.2.2 Ghana** 

Mozambique has a population of 22.6 million people, in which 61.6% reside in rural area in 2010 (United Nations, 2007). Similar to Ghana, the Mozambique government does not have an agency solely supporting the development of biogas. Some initiative such as Biogas Technology West Africa Ltd5 is however, also undertaking a biogas power project in the country. The project is an electric power system powered by a biogas-fired internal combustion engine generator at Mpunsa Village, Chicualacuala District, Gaza Province in Mozambique.
